Possum

Watched this possum "waddle" across a partially frozen creek. I guess he didn't know about thin ice - he made it though.
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Full Moon

A gorgeous full moon last night...
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Thermometer

One of those days when I had to find a photographic opportunity around the house. I've never been able to read this glass thermometer. I think you have to add the number on the bottom of each floating bulb, divide by 2 and find the square root - I don't know, but it is pleasant to look at...
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More Stained Glass

There are several separate panels in our church's stained glass display - this is yet another view.
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A Tagger's Canvas

As we sat at a train crossing waiting for a 100+ car freight train to clear the highway, I noticed a lot of "art" on the cars. I have to say some of it was pretty interesting. I can't say I understood all of it - but it was appealing to look at. There was the occasional "f*** the cops" message, but other than those it took some talent to do the work - and I imagine most of it done in the dark. The train companies should just give up and hire the taggers to decorate the cars. It would add jobs to the economy, enhance the look of the boring freight car, and make the wait at the crossings interesting. Just a thought...
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Red Water Drop

I was playing around again with the water drop and chose a red background this time. I think the blue one came out better.


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Shoreline Mississippi

I do not believe that you can go any farther south in Iowa than the shoreline of the Mississippi at Fort Madison. This is a photo of that point.
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Too Many Choices

It was an excellent weekend for taking photographs and I can't decide which one to use - there are too many choices - so, I'll just have to share a couple...


We picked up my Mother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law who were returning from a Trip to California. Just had to take a train picture while we were waiting.


The HWY 34 Bridge going into Illinois. Looks like a big "H".


While I was shooting Eagle Photos this guy popped his head up as to say, "Whatsup?"


This is next to the old Fort Madison and as we were driving by I noticed the Eagles sitting on the ice. Now, what was I to do? I just HAD to stop and shoot some pictures. Although the temperature was 37 degrees there was a stiff wind coming off the river and it felt like 112 below zero. I didn't stay long...
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Coming In for the Kill

We're back in Burlington, Iowa to pick up my sister-in-law and mother-in-law from their train trip out West and of course we had to pay a visit to Lock and Dam #18 - the location where I got my last Eagle picture. It was a bit after noon, foggy, and a bit misty, and the Eagles weren't as plentiful as the last trip - but, there were two!!

There were plenty of gulls fishing but when the Eagles came out and they got out of the way. I took this photograph seconds before his feet hit the water. He came up empty, but it was great fun to watch. I watched, and waited for over an over and got a variety of different photos.

We're staying with our friends the Jones (thanks Tom and Lin) and if you note the time of this post it's early - I hope to perhaps catch a cardinal or two this morning...
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Ice Cave

I didn't notice this at the time I took the photo, but there is a person with a dog under the frozen falls.
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Footbridge

A footbridge at Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis, MN.
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The Frost Continues

The frost just keeps hanging on - word has it that thought that today will bring ice - my least favorite kind of precipitation.
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Frost At Night

A friend called me last night and said that there was frost on her husband's car antenna that would make a good photo. My wife and I drove over and I took some shots - I can say that I agree with her - it made for an interesting photograph.
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Frosty Morning

We had a foggy, foggy night and as a result we have a gorgeous frosty morning.
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Fence

The perspective on this fence caught my eye. It's not a special fence, doesn't really protect anything - just sits there and looks cool - thought I'd share.
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Frozen Falls

Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis, MN


I've taken this picture before, but it was a different time of day, and with another camera. Thought I would pay another visit.
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Water Droplet

I read an article today, I guess now it was yesterday, about water photography and the techniques to use in photographing a water droplet as it hits the water or shortly thereafter. That's one good thing about digital photography is that you can get an immediate response and can adjust your technique and exposure. It took me several attempts and I really only got the one good splash. I'll keep trying and experimenting - but, for my first one it didn't turn out to bad.
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Abandoned White TRUCK

I saw this abandoned white TRUCK in back of the Methodist church in Sperry, Iowa. The white on white with a clear blue sky caught my attention.

I read a quote today from Ansel Adams, "There are always two people in every photograph. The photographer and the viewer." I will remember that as I look through the viewfinder.
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Another Diner

This little guy was enjoying lunch along with all of the other diners...
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Lunch Buddies

I don't know enough about birds to know what kind of bird the tail belongs to sitting on the other side of the feeder - but it must be good food!!
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Sunrise Over Burlington, Iowa

Sunrise (yesterday) over Burlington, Iowa.
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Cardinals

Gorgeous cardinals all over. Tom and Linn live on an acreage and have been feeding the birds for a long time. In Waterloo I'm lucky if I see one cardinal a YEAR and trying to get a photograph is, well, as difficult as my getting an Eagle picture has been. But, yesterday I saw so many cardinals, male and female, that I was like a kid in a candy store with only a dime to spend - what do I shoot (photographically)? We're in Iowa so this is heaven and this acreage certainly reflects that beauty.

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Thanks to My Friends Tom and Linn

For those of you following my blog you know I've been trying to get a photo of an Eagle. Every time I would see one in Waterloo/Cedar Falls I either didn't have a camera, or it wasn't an Eagle at all. We're visiting our friends Tom and Linn in Burlington and Tom took me out Eagle hunting and I snapped the above picture. I was thrilled. I asked Tom to pull over so we could wait and perhaps I could shoot some more pictures - but, "No," he said, "We're going to the Lock and damn." Well - damn... take a look at the picture below - a tree full of Eagles.


A Colony...


I have my Eagle picture - thanks Tom and Linn!!!
PS I'll be back for more pictures. Excuse my early post to January 10, 2010, but I just couldn't wait. Tomorrow morning will bring another bird...
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Drift

This is a view of the 4 foot drift in front of the house. The wind does make some awesome structures - glad I don't have to shovel this one.
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Missing Pipe or the Leak Is Found

We have been battling a leak for years - and now finally it's been found. The top apart of the pipe is flat out gone, missing, not there anymore. It wasn't the deck (now gone) it wasn't frozen pipes, it wasn't draining down from the roof - it was a rusted out pipe. On one hand I am very pleased we have found it - on the other hand - part of the wall is now missing and there is a mess to clean up and a plumber to pay. This guy earned it though because he found the source.

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iMac Photo Booth

Sometimes getting a photo day is difficult. Yesterday was hectic and busy and I didn’t get any photographs taken. So, here I am this morning with no photograph to post. Then I thought – hey – there’s a camera on my iMac so I took a photo using Photo Booth, played with some of the effects and here is the result. Now I have a photo to post.

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A Cold WInter Day

A Cold winter day - I kinda like the beauty of winter (as long as I don't have to be outside very long). It looks like we're going to have 6 more inches of beauty by Thursday.
(Photograph taken with my iPhone) - is that cheating?
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Consolidation

I have waaaaaaaaaay to many sites and a goal of mine in 2010 is to consolidate my Writing Blog, "Windmills of my Mind", Flickr, FaceBook, this Project 365 Blog and my RALLENHILL site.

I am experimenting with Wordpress. For the time being I will be publish photos to both this blog and my new WordPress based site. If you wish to view the photos on the new site click on the BLOG Link on the right hand side of the page. To follow the new site via RSS Feed click on the link towards the bottom of the page.. Here's the link: Photosbyrallenhill.

Ice Everywhere

Ice is everywhere as temperature drops below 0...

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Grandma Auntie Carol

Somewhere along the line one the grandkids who was struggling with the concept of a Great Aunt, called my Sistier-in-Law Carol, Grandma-Auntie Carol - and the name stuck. Here Grandma-Auntie Carol gets to know Daniel...

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Bath Time

Grandson Daniel getting a bath in the kitchen sink - he has just been taken out of the warm water...

He's warmer now and is looking at his Daddy and ignoring the old man with the camera.

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Sunrise January 1, 2010

Sunrise 01-01-2010

While I was out and about this morning I drove by George Wyeth Park and saw the female eagle again (closer), and I swear she was posing. I'm still waiting for the male to show up - 2010 is going to be my year of the eagle.

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Ice Fishing

Happy New Year!!! Ice Fisherman are a hearty folk. One has to love fishing to set up housekeeping on a frozen lake and then drill a hole in the middle. The only part of fishing I like is the end result - pan fried.

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